Big AFL grand final day awaits Dustin Martin's family

Members of Dustin Martin's family ready to cheer him on at the AFL grand final on Saturday. Picture: DARREN HOWE

It had the feeling of the night before Christmas at Lois Knight’s Castlemaine home on Friday.

Lois’ family was together and buzzing with excitement as there was something big to look forward to the next day – not Christmas, but the AFL grand final where one of the family’s own is set to take centre stage.

Lois Knight is Richmond star Dustin Martin’s Nan, and on Friday the countdown was on to one of the biggest days in the family’s life as the Tigers prepared to take on the Adelaide Crows.

It has already been a week to remember for the family, with Lois’ grandson now a Brownlow medallist after Martin’s win on Monday night when he polled a record 36 votes.

“It has been absolute bedlam this week and now we’re really looking forward to tomorrow,” Lois said as the AFL grand final parade was being shown on the TV in the background.

“I’m just so proud of him and it all just feels like a bit of a dream this week.

So too did Martin’s mum, Kathy Knight, who has been brought to tears every time this week she was re-watched her son’s Brownlow Medal win.

“I’m very proud of him, but I always knew he would play AFL and that he would one day win a Brownlow… I know my boy,” Kathy said.

“I’ve got home video footage of him sitting on my knee and my arm wrapped around him saying, ‘this is Dustin Martin, my little AFL star’.

“He was just born with a football in his hand and I truly believe that Richmond will win tomorrow and Dustin will live his fairytale at 26.

“I probably didn’t think he would become as big a name as what he has, but he’s only going to get better and better because it’s just in him.”

Kathy watched the Brownlow Medal at a friend’s house in Winchelsea, where she has recently moved to.

“I balled and danced around the lounge room like a maniac when he won it. It couldn’t have gone any better and the night was just perfect,” Kathy said.

“I rang him and he even answered the phone… he’s obviously very busy so I normally need to leave a voicemail or send a text.

“You haven’t been able to wipe the smile off my face since Monday night. The amount of times I’ve watched it on my phone since; I shed tears each time because that’s my boy.”

Before Martin rose to superstardom with Richmond he played junior football at Campbells Creek, senior football with Castlemaine, winning the Bendigo league Rising Star Award in 2008, and TAC Cup with the Bendigo Pioneers.